At Synagogues across the Milwaukee area, you'll find hundreds of people dressed up in all sorts of costumes. Jews across the globe are celebrating Purim.

Get your party on; Purim is almost here! The holiday is one of the most joyous and fun on the Jewish calendar, complete with everything from feasts to costumes to wine, all in honor of Queen Esther and her loyal cousin Mordecai rescuing the Jews from slaughter in the Persian Empire.

Hebrew scholar and Jewish academic Irene Lancaster reflects on Purim and Jewish-Christian dialogue. Purim starts tonight and in Israel lasts till Monday. Based on the Book of Esther which we read tonight and tomorrow in Shul, we remind ourselves of G-d’s continued presence through the actions of human beings, even when His name isn’t mentioned.

Purim is a festival when Jews remember Esther, who was the Queen of Persia more than 2,000 years ago. She was Jewish but her husband, the King, didn't know this. The King's chief minister was Haman, a man who hated the Jews.

Often affectionately referred to as "Jewish Mardi Gras," Purim is more than just a festive occasion filled with costumes, laughter, and delicious pastries. It carries profound lessons about resilience,

Purim is a joyful Jewish holiday that celebrates the survival of the Jewish people in ancient Persia, as told in the biblical Book of Esther. It falls on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar, which in 2025 corresponds to the evening of March 13 through the evening of March 14 (the date changes every year against the Gregorian calendar).